Professional Voice Practice - MA / MFA / PgDip drafted

Program Overview

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Professional Voice Practice - MA

Realise your potential as a creative practitioner and train to be a professional voice coach at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. You will gain highly specialised knowledge in a range of professional contexts and develop advanced expertise as a voice coach, teacher or performer.

Through reading, discussion, reflective writing and practising as a coach or teacher, you will relate theory and practice and learn the ways of thinking and working of a professional voice practitioner. Through full engagement with the opportunities the course provides, you will be prepared for work as a voice practitioner in private practice, in Further or Higher Education, in business, in theatre, performing arts and media.

This course is

open

to

International

students.

What's covered in this course?

The starting point is work on yourself: i.e. your voice and its source in your body and breath. It is the experiential understanding of this process and listening to your colleagues on the course that informs your own pedagogy.

At Royal Birmingham Conservatoire we advocate a physiological and imaginative approach to voice work that develops the 'practical, intellectual, physical and emotional skills of students in an atmosphere that is enabling, supportive and empowering'*.

Through core learning based on how the voice works, your imagination will fuel the development of your personal artistry and development. If you aspire to learn in-depth, specialist knowledge in professional voice practice, then this programme will not only teach you the skills, but broaden your vital industry connections.

The foundation of the course is rooted in the principles and practices of healthy vocal use. Exploring topics such as vocal function and dysfunction, phonetics and accent analysis, you will build an in-depth awareness of professional voice practice. The content of the course spans from teaching you practice-based methods and strategies to theoretical research.

We will help you establish links to industry through our strong connections with leading companies such as the RSC, Birmingham REP Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. We have a working relationship with the Royal Shakespeare Company and with the company’s Head of Voice, Kate Godfrey. We also have connections at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Voice Clinic which can offer students insights to clinical practice. Our Professional Voice Practice course has been developed with the support of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Graduates have gone on to fulfil very exciting careers, working professionally at prestigious organisations such as the RSC, The Royal Court, the Minack, The Cambridge Theatre, the Mountview Theatre Academy and ALRA.

With regular masterclasses and a compulsory placement module you will gain excellent insight and experience of working professional practice. Your course will be led by a mixture of visiting and in-house tutors, all of which have extensive industry experience. Alex Taylor, your course director, has worked internationally with schools such as Juilliard. Alex’s influential background brings a wealth of experience to the course, bringing you comprehensive, informed and exciting study. Our visiting tutors’ range of experience varies from work with professional theatre companies, the field of film and television, Voice Care Network UK, NHS Direct, the BBC, UK Borders and many more.

*(Federation of Drama Schools Core Principles)

I applied to a number of voice programmes, but I was really attracted to Birmingham at the audition when I met Alex Taylor and Stephen Simms. They were engaging and took an interest in my personal career path from the moment I met them. The programme was unique in its mix of practice and research – it was truly a perfect blend. The strong practice-based foundation got me ready to work and teach, but the research component helped me learn to challenge pedagogy and explore the bedrock of voice and speech work. I felt and still feel that with this mix of practice and research, I have the knowledge and power to discover the solutions for challenges in my professional life.

Dayle Torwanicky, NYC-based Teaching Artist

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Why Choose Us?

The course was developed hand-in-hand with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s voice department, which means the content has been carefully crafted to provide you with the best, industry-required knowledge and voice skill.

The course provides you with an overview of a range of approaches to working with the voice through working with a range of highly-qualified and gifted practitioners. Methodologies include: Linklater, Estill and Berry.

We have a working relationship with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Voice Clinic, offering students the unique chance to explore professional voice practice in an authentic, specialised and engaging way.

Here at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire we are proud to be a part of Birmingham City University. Unlike other acting schools, as a student you are not only part of an accredited drama school but also a recognised University.

Our industry connections stem from internal and external sources. Our staff have vast, and notable experience, both at home and internationally. Staff have worked with a range of individual, companies and projects, including the BBC, the NHS, British repertory and festival theatres and much more.

Enhance your employability by learning an in-depth specialised knowledge of professional voice practice. Graduates have gone on to succeed in the field of voice practice, working on well-known productions such as the RSC’s Matilda, teaching in accredited drama schools, working in Further and Higher Education, running their own successful businesses and developing their private practice.

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Studying with us during the Covid-19 pandemic

The University has put in place

measures in response to Covid-19

to allow us to safely deliver our courses. Should the impact of the pandemic continue in future years, any additional or alternative arrangements put in place by the University will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the

student contract

.

Program Outline

PG Dip

MA

MFA

PG Dip

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules, totalling 120 credits:

Voice Theory 40 credits

This module informs and underpins the practical work of the modules Practical Voice, Voice and Text and Singing. The Anatomy and Physiology lectures in the early weeks of the course are designed to inform the student’s understanding of healthy vocal use and of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place for the voice to function which is the focus of the practical work throughout the year.

Practical Phonetics provides a theoretical underpinning for the work with language of the Voice and Text module and also introduces another important area of work for the voice practitioner which deals with the accents and dialects of spoken English. Practical Phonetics will provide the student with the tools of research, analysis and practice necessary in order to acquire other accents and will provide them with strategies useful for the teaching of accent and dialect work.

Practical Voice 1 20 credits

Combined with the

Voice and Text

and

Singing

modules, this module forms the foundation of the student’s deeper understanding of voice work and provides him/her with a range of physiologically and imaginatively based approaches to working with the voice, simultaneously enabling his/her own voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power.

Emphasis is placed on a practical, personal exploration of voice work and upon personal, reflective practice. By exploring all the elements of healthy vocal use him/herself, the student acquires an understanding of how the voice functions and of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place in order for the voice to function optimally and expressively.

Voice and Text 20 credits

Combined with the

Practical Voice

and

Singing

modules, this module forms the foundation for a deeper understanding of voice work and provides you with a range of approaches to the interpretation and speaking of densely coded texts simultaneously enabling your voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power.

To engage with the work to the fullest extent, you need to learn and present texts within the class so that an experiential understanding of the imaginative and technical demands of interpreting texts is developed. As graduates of the course, you will be working with actors, actors in training, or other students of voice, so it is important that you have some direct experience of performing, in a safe and supportive environment in order to understand the challenges that face the performer or presenter.

Singing 20 credits

At a time when professional performers are increasingly required to sing as well as speak, this module aims to provide you with insights, techniques and the diagnostic tools that will enable you to address the issues that may arise when a performer is required to move seamlessly from speech to song and from sung text back to spoken text.

Combined with the

Practical Voice

and

Voice and Text

modules, this module contributes to your deeper understanding of voice work and provides you with a range of imaginative and physiologically based approaches to working with the voice, simultaneously enabling your own voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power. In exploring all the elements of healthy vocal use in practice you acquire an understanding of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place in order for your voice to function optimally in moving from spoken to sung text. Care is taken to emphasise and to clarify the relationship between the function of the voice when speaking and when singing, and the differences and similarities of these vocal functions. The aim is to provide you with a deeper understanding of these two vocal activities, and an awareness of the inter-relationship between them.

Pedagogy and Placement 1 20 credits

This module provides opportunities for you to explore the various philosophical and ethical issues relating to the contexts within which you may work as a voice professional, simultaneously providing you with the theoretical foundation you will need in order to teach.

The module proceeds through the first three terms of the course and is delivered through a range of teaching modes, including lectures, seminars and student-led practical sessions. In the third term, the pedagogy class feeds into your Placement experience, providing a useful forum for debate and discussion.

MA

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):

Voice Theory 40 credits

This module informs and underpins the practical work of the modules Practical Voice, Voice and Text and Singing. The Anatomy and Physiology lectures in the early weeks of the course are designed to inform the student’s understanding of healthy vocal use and of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place for the voice to function which is the focus of the practical work throughout the year.

Practical Phonetics provides a theoretical underpinning for the work with language of the Voice and Text module and also introduces another important area of work for the voice practitioner which deals with the accents and dialects of spoken English. Practical Phonetics will provide the student with the tools of research, analysis and practice necessary in order to acquire other accents and will provide them with strategies useful for the teaching of accent and dialect work.

Practical Voice 1 20 credits

Combined with the

Voice and Text

and

Singing

modules, this module forms the foundation of the student’s deeper understanding of voice work and provides him/her with a range of physiologically and imaginatively based approaches to working with the voice, simultaneously enabling his/her own voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power.

Emphasis is placed on a practical, personal exploration of voice work and upon personal, reflective practice. By exploring all the elements of healthy vocal use him/herself, the student acquires an understanding of how the voice functions and of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place in order for the voice to function optimally and expressively.

Voice and Text 1 20 credits

Combined with the

Practical Voice

and

Singing

modules, this module forms the foundation for a deeper understanding of voice work and provides you with a range of approaches to the interpretation and speaking of densely coded texts simultaneously enabling your voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power.

To engage with the work to the fullest extent, you need to learn and present texts within the class so that an experiential understanding of the imaginative and technical demands of interpreting texts is developed. As graduates of the course, you will be working with actors, actors in training, or other students of voice, so it is important that you have some direct experience of performing, in a safe and supportive environment in order to understand the challenges that face the performer or presenter.

Singing 1 20 credits

At a time when professional performers are increasingly required to sing as well as speak, this module aims to provide you with insights, techniques and the diagnostic tools that will enable you to address the issues that may arise when a performer is required to move seamlessly from speech to song and from sung text back to spoken text.

Combined with the

Practical Voice

and

Voice and Text

modules, this module contributes to your deeper understanding of voice work and provides you with a range of imaginative and physiologically based approaches to working with the voice, simultaneously enabling your own voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power. In exploring all the elements of healthy vocal use in practice you acquire an understanding of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place in order for your voice to function optimally in moving from spoken to sung text. Care is taken to emphasise and to clarify the relationship between the function of the voice when speaking and when singing, and the differences and similarities of these vocal functions. The aim is to provide you with a deeper understanding of these two vocal activities, and an awareness of the inter-relationship between them.

Pedagogy and Placement 1 20 credits

This module provides opportunities for you to explore the various philosophical and ethical issues relating to the contexts within which you may work as a voice professional, simultaneously providing you with the theoretical foundation you will need in order to teach.

The module proceeds through the first three terms of the course and is delivered through a range of teaching modes, including lectures, seminars and student-led practical sessions. In the third term, the pedagogy class feeds into your Placement experience, providing a useful forum for debate and discussion.

Major Project 60 credits

This module spans the programme and the Major Project, delivered in Term 4, represents the culmination of your journey on the course. It is the point in the course when you have the opportunity to reflect on all you have learnt thus far in order to initiate lines of enquiry and personal strategies through which to develop your own ideas as a foundation for future work in the field.

Much of the work of the Major Project is self-directed. You are encouraged to undertake research-through-practice and create a performance-based major project. You may choose to include a written component by way of evaluating their practice or you may choose to perform and be examined through a viva voce examination. There are a range of options for submission, laid out below and in the module brief.

MFA

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 280 credits):

Voice Theory 40 credits

This module informs and underpins the practical work of the modules Practical Voice, Voice and Text and Singing. The Anatomy and Physiology lectures in the early weeks of the course are designed to inform the student’s understanding of healthy vocal use and of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place for the voice to function which is the focus of the practical work throughout the year.

Practical Phonetics provides a theoretical underpinning for the work with language of the Voice and Text module and also introduces another important area of work for the voice practitioner which deals with the accents and dialects of spoken English. Practical Phonetics will provide the student with the tools of research, analysis and practice necessary in order to acquire other accents and will provide them with strategies useful for the teaching of accent and dialect work.

Practical Voice 1 20 credits

Combined with the

Voice and Text

and

Singing

modules, this module forms the foundation of the student’s deeper understanding of voice work and provides him/her with a range of physiologically and imaginatively based approaches to working with the voice, simultaneously enabling his/her own voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power.

Emphasis is placed on a practical, personal exploration of voice work and upon personal, reflective practice. By exploring all the elements of healthy vocal use him/herself, the student acquires an understanding of how the voice functions and of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place in order for the voice to function optimally and expressively.

Voice and Text 1 20 credits

Combined with the

Practical Voice

and

Singing

modules, this module forms the foundation for a deeper understanding of voice work and provides you with a range of approaches to the interpretation and speaking of densely coded texts simultaneously enabling your voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power.

To engage with the work to the fullest extent, you need to learn and present texts within the class so that an experiential understanding of the imaginative and technical demands of interpreting texts is developed. As graduates of the course, you will be working with actors, actors in training, or other students of voice, so it is important that you have some direct experience of performing, in a safe and supportive environment in order to understand the challenges that face the performer or presenter.

Singing 1 20 credits

At a time when professional performers are increasingly required to sing as well as speak, this module aims to provide you with insights, techniques and the diagnostic tools that will enable you to address the issues that may arise when a performer is required to move seamlessly from speech to song and from sung text back to spoken text.

Combined with the

Practical Voice

and

Voice and Text

modules, this module contributes to your deeper understanding of voice work and provides you with a range of imaginative and physiologically based approaches to working with the voice, simultaneously enabling your own voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power. In exploring all the elements of healthy vocal use in practice you acquire an understanding of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place in order for your voice to function optimally in moving from spoken to sung text. Care is taken to emphasise and to clarify the relationship between the function of the voice when speaking and when singing, and the differences and similarities of these vocal functions. The aim is to provide you with a deeper understanding of these two vocal activities, and an awareness of the inter-relationship between them.

Pedagogy and Placement 1 20 credits

This module provides opportunities for you to explore the various philosophical and ethical issues relating to the contexts within which you may work as a voice professional, simultaneously providing you with the theoretical foundation you will need in order to teach.

The module proceeds through the first three terms of the course and is delivered through a range of teaching modes, including lectures, seminars and student-led practical sessions. In the third term, the pedagogy class feeds into your Placement experience, providing a useful forum for debate and discussion.

Major Project 60 credits

This module spans the programme and the Major Project, delivered in Term 4, represents the culmination of your journey on the course. It is the point in the course when you have the opportunity to reflect on all you have learnt thus far in order to initiate lines of enquiry and personal strategies through which to develop your own ideas as a foundation for future work in the field.

Much of the work of the Major Project is self-directed. You are encouraged to undertake research-through-practice and create a performance-based major project. You may choose to include a written component by way of evaluating their practice or you may choose to perform and be examined through a viva voce examination. There are a range of options for submission, laid out below and in the module brief.

Practical Voice 2 40 credits

This module provides opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of practical voice teaching.

The course provides you with a weekly opportunity to continue to explore your own vocal practice, through a two-hour practical session. You will be assigned, or you may request, a personal voice tutor. This may be one of the permanent voice staff of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, or it may be a voice practitioner of some standing who works for another institution or company. (If opting to work with someone outside the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, additional costs must be borne by you.)

Pedagogy and Placement 2 20 credits

This module provides an opportunity for you to reflect on and appraise your developing professional identity in the context of a placement opportunity within the Birmingham Conservatoire.

The module is delivered in the second term of the course and is delivered through a range of teaching modes, including tutorials and student-led practical sessions. This is a further opportunity to respond to the professional challenges posed by the role of the voice practitioner in a professional context after the work of Pedagogy & Placement 1.

Pedagogy and Placement 3 20 credits

This module provides an opportunity for you to

engage in practically oriented action research

in the context of a

work or

placement

opportunity, either within the Birmingham Conservatoire or at another institution.

The module is delivered in the final term of the course and is delivered mainly through tutorials, student-led practical sessions, and teaching observations. This is a further opportunity to respond to the professional challenges posed by the role of the voice practitioner in a professional context after the work of Pedagogy & Placement 1 and 2.